Charlevoix schools looks to cut teachers

CHARLEVOIX - After three years of cuts in the state's student aid fund, the Charlevoix school district is seeing little relief next year.

The school board has cut close to $1.5 million in two years and may make an additional cut of $554,000 in its 2005-2006 budget.

Superintendent John Sturock said the district could tap into its fund balance if the cuts were not made in its general budget by the end of the next fiscal year- and the school's reserve fund balance could be depleted by the end of the 2007-2008 school year if things do not change in Lansing.

Since 1994, the Legislature has tweaked Proposal A more than 75 times. Coupled with a sour economy and a cut in subsidy for the student foundation grant, that represents a loss of $550 million a year in school funding, Sturock said.

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In the last three years, the student foundation grant has not increased and has been prorated, representing a loss of $1,216,000, almost 8 percent of Charlevoix's budget, Sturock said.

School business manager Shawn Biddle said if the district had received its share of the school aid fund, the district would not be in the position of having to make drastic cuts.

Across the state, stagnant state funding, rising costs of health care and retirement and higher operational costs are forcing schools to not replace retiring teachers, to lay off teachers and increase class sizes.

Some districts are cutting athletic and arts programs to sustain a balanced budget, while some schools may close their doors for good.

While the district has been able to maintain its fund balances, Sturock recognizes the bleak outlook.

"Eventually that rainy day fund will run out and when it runs out we will have to make significant cuts," Sturock said. "We made cuts the last two years and are looking at cuts this year"

Sturock shared how the state of education is in dire straits, and some districts are financially unable to operate.

The district may make additional cuts of $554,000 going into the 2005-2006 school year. Sturock said the cuts will include personnel, representing close to 80 percent of the school's expenditures.

Of five teachers retiring, 3 1/2 positions may not be filled, Biddle said. The school board may cut three full time aide positions funded by the general fund, representing $100,000. The aides funded by the federal Title One funds and the state's at-risk funding are not at risk for cuts. The district may save $5,000 by working with a private substitute agency, and cut out field trip transportation for a $6,000 savings, and $53,000 by not replacing a bus.

Each year it's become more difficult for the board to balance the budget.

Several possibilities have been discussed, including moving performing arts to an extracurricular activity, the possibility of having the assistant principal/athletic director teach a couple of class sections, as well as if it is common for a class C school to have an assistant principal and changing the high school scheduling to trimesters.

The board also discussed how proposed cuts would impact class sizes.

"These are very desperate times for school districts," school board president Dennis Halverson said. "We are extremely sensitive to what this is doing to our employees."

The state is offering a form of relief, but Sturock said it is not enough. The state may provide an additional $175 for the basic foundation grant, representing close to $241,500 for Charlevoix, Sturock said.

Sturock also discussed the importance of planning ahead and for parent involvement. The district may initiate a community educational campaign.

Sturock said in 2007-08 no matter what decisions or cuts are made the district's fund equity will look at another round of cuts.

Sturock said a permanent fix needs to come from Lansing.

"I don't think our legislators have a clear picture," Sturock said, expressing that in all fairness, today's legislators were not in office when Proposal A was passed. "Our legislators need to be educated."

Sturock recognizes that the school funding issues cannot be solved locally, since the district does not have the ability to raise money locally.

Under Proposal A , a district cannot raise millage for its operational costs. A district can only raise funds by increasing enrollment, which increases the student aid subsidy. The district has been trying to add all day kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs to help recruit more students.

Sturock said legislators hear from area superintendents, but do not see the impact of the cuts. He's afraid they may not recognize the problem until more schools cut programs, increase class sizes, cut extracurriculars and the arts, initiate pay-to-play - or when some schools close.

Sturock said this is not a party line issue.

"They have to put the partisan views aside, this is not a Democratic or Republican issue," he said. "We have to work together to solve this issue for everyone, it's one that impacts our kids."